Battle of unbeaten rivals

By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON__The Bluffton High School football team dominated visiting rival Allen East 35-13 in its Northwest Conference opener at Harmon Field on Friday, Sept. 11.

Pirate Blayne Hill returned the opening kickoff 78 yards all the way to paydirt to open the scoring and set the tone for the contest. 

Bluffton led 14-0 after the first quarter. The Pirates stretched the lead to 21-0 midway through the second stanza and were never seriously threatened.

The Pirates improved to 4-0 and 1-0 in the NWC after the decisive backyard rivalry win. AE fell to 3-1 and 0-1 in NWC play with the loss.

Andy Brodman’s first of five extra point kicks after the opening touchdown return made it 7-0.

Lleyton Miller then hauled in a 61-yard scoring strike from Tayte Giesige to double the lead to 14-0.

Parker Lovell found the end zone on a four-yard run to extend the margin to 21-0 in the second period. 

AE scored on a 14-yard scamper to inch within 21-7 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Giesige hit paydirt on a three-yard run. That TD was followed by a 48-yard scoring ramble by Parker Lovell as the Pirates increased their commanding lead to 35-7.

The Mustangs answered with a five-yard TD run later in the period, but the PAT kick missed to keep the margin at 22.

Neither team scored in the fourth quarter with the running clock enacted.

NOTES AND STATS

Undefeated Bluffton surged to first place in the Div. V, Region 18 rankings with the win.

AE fell to seventh in the Div. VI, Region 22 ratings after suffering their first loss. 

The Pirates compiled 286 total yards on 48 plays (6.0 yards per play). AE totaled 244 yards on 58 snaps (4.2 per play).

Bluffton amassed 13 first downs and was 9-11 on third down, an 82 percent conversion rate. AE moved the chains 16 times but was only 2-9 on third-down tries (22 percent).

The Mustangs were 2-4 on fourth down. AE committed two turnovers, while the Pirates had no miscues. The Mustangs also hurt themselves with 95 yards in penalties on eight flags. Bluffton was only flagged three times for 14 yards.

Giesige completed 10 of 14 passes for 115 yards and one TD. He also ran the ball seven times for 35 yards and a score.

Lovell racked up 124 yards rushing and a pair of TDs on 19 carries. 

Miller caught five aerials for 90 yards and one TD. Hill added one catch for 13 yards.

AE rushed for 185 yards on 31 attempts, and completed 11 of 18 passes for just 85 yards.

The versatile Giesige made eight assists and three solo stops on defense. He also intercepted a pass and recovered a Mustang fumble.

Zayden Morales was in on 11 assisted tackles and had two solo stops. 

Mason Shank contributed a sack and eight assists. Lovell added six assists and three solo tackles.

Bluffton plays at league rival Delphos Jefferson (3-0, 0-0 NWC) next Friday, Sept. 18. DJ hosted Fort Loramie (2-1) in its NWC opener Saturday night.